17
If you serve me faithfully as your father David did, obeying my laws and doing everything I have commanded you,
18
I will keep the promise I made to your father David when I told him that Israel would always be ruled by his descendants.
19
But if you and your people ever disobey the laws and commands I have given you and worship other gods,
20
then I will remove you from the land that I gave you, and I will abandon this Temple that I have consecrated as the place where I am to be worshiped. People everywhere will ridicule it and treat it with contempt.
21
"The Temple is now greatly honored, but then everyone who passes by it will be amazed and will ask, "Why did the Lord do this to this land and this Temple?'
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.